Tributes paid to missing actor

The Olivier Award,s which recognise some of the biggest theatre stars, has paid tribute to actor Paul Bhattacharjee, whose body was found yesterday evening.

Paul Bhattacharjee was an important part of the theatre world, the artistic director of the Royal Court said today.

Vicky Featherstone paid tribute to the actor, whose body was found near cliffs in East Sussex:

Tributes have poured in for "gifted" and "deep thinking" 007 star Paul Bhattacharjee, from north-east London, whose body was found near cliffs two days after he disappeared.

Meera Syal, who appeared alongside him in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Much Ado about Nothing, said:

"Paul was an incredibly gifted versatile and generous actor but also complex, deep thinking, engagingly opinionated and politically committed as a personality, truly wonderful to share a stage with.

"I don't think any of us who saw him recently or were working with him had any idea this awful tragedy was going to happen.

"We are all sending our love and prayers to his family and partner."

Actor Amit Shah known from TV series All Stars, Fresh Meat and appearing on Hustle, has hailed Paul Bhattacharjee as the 'Godfather of British Asian actors' after his body was found near cliffs in East Sussex yesterday evening.

Paul Bhattacharjee was a powerful and versatile actor, the artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company today, after his body was found near cliffs in East Sussex yesterday.

Gregory Doran paid tribute to the actor: "He was a stalwart member of the Jacobethan Season of rare and undiscovered plays by Shakespeare's contemporaries a decade ago; I was lucky enough to direct him as the sinister villain in Fletcher's The Island Princess.

"Paul was a terrific company member, a powerful, versatile actor of great presence and weight, and a gentleman. He will be sadly missed".

Tributes have been paid to actor Paul Bhattacharjee, with many from the theatre world taking to Twitter to express their sadness.

Director Jamie Lloyd wrote:

Muzz Khan, who appeared in Much Ado About Nothing alongside the late actor, said:

The RSC co-star of Paul Bhattacharjee said there is "a sense of disbelief" about the actor's death, London's Evening Standard newspaper reports.

Kulvinder Ghir, who appeared alongside Bhattacharjee in Much Ado about Nothing, told the paper: “Paul’s death is shocking. There is a sense of disbelief because he had so much energy in him.”

Police recovered the body of the Casino Royale and EastEnders actor, 53, early yesterday near cliffs in East Sussex.

Ghir, who starred in Bend it Like Beckham and sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, said: “Paul really spoke through the tremendous body of his work. He really tried to take on roles that he could work with and develop a message about."

More: Body found of missing actor Paul Bhattacharjee

Actor Paul Bhattacharjee, who was found dead yesterday aged 53, played Benedick in the Shakespeare comedy Much Ado About Nothing at Stratford-upon-Avon last year alongside Meera Syal.